Item Info

Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

After a demon kidnaps Sita, her husband Rama and his brother Lakshmana enlist the help of two armies, one of monkeys, the second of bears. When they find that Sita is being held prisoner in a golden fortress on the island of Lanka, the monkeys and bears construct a rock causeway so their armies can cross the sea. Rama is shown here with a blue complexion, since he is considered an incarnation of the god Vishnu. Yet this contrasts with his natural skin tone in the previous painting. Such discrepancies may arise when numerous artists work together on a manuscript. Indeed, as an inscription below this painting indicates, at least two artists worked on this folio­—one was responsible for its overall execution, the other for the faces.

Region/County: Region/County:Northern India, Mughal court

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): 1599
Call Number: Lewis M 12